A police spokesman said the first started in the living room of the home after a window was smashed and an object containing flammable liquid was thrown in.

A man inside the house put out the fire with water before the emergency services were called.

The fire damaged a sofa and caused smoke damage to walls.

The force spokesman said: “Detectives from Liverpool CID are treating the arson as a targeted attacked and enquiries are continuing.”

A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The scene was investigated by officers from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Incident Investigation Team and the cause was found to be suspected deliberate ignition.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.